India Test Fires First Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile

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Nov. 12 – India test fired its first submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) K-15, from a land-based launcher today. Nicknamed 'Shaurya',the medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a 600-km range is to be used by the Indian Army. The missile was successfully test fired from an Integrated Test Range (ITR) about 230km from Orissa's state capital Bhubaneswar.

The sophisticated tactical missile is capable of carrying conventional warheads with a payload of about one tonne. "With longer shelf-life, as it is stored in a canister just like the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the Shaurya is easily transportable and user-friendly. This is a technology development project," DRDO sources told the Indian Express in New Delhi.

The K-15 missile has a length of around 11 metres, larger than the 8.5-metre-long Prithvi short-range ballistic missile but smaller than the 15-metre-long Agni-1 ballistic missile, the Times of India said.